Sport garment



March 10, 1942. c. L. STOKES SPORT GARMENT Filed Aug. 9, 1939 Patented Mar. 16, 1942 -irs 1 Claim.

This invention relates to waterproof garments, and has for its principal object the provision of a garment capable of supporting the wearer when partially submerged in water vertically.

The invention has particular adaptability to garments useful for fishermen, hunters, and the like, whereby the wearer is able to put on a garment and walk straight out into water of increasing depth and thereafter to float in such water in a condition of stability. In so doing, the adaptability of the invention for life-saving purposes under any conditions will be clear.

The principal object of the invention is accomplished by providing an inside waterproof section of a garment, which may be trousers, but the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, with which is joined in airtight relationship a second or outer section in which air is trapped or held in such volume as to properly support the wearer in water.

In order to maintain the figure of the wearer vertically under all conditions in the water so as to prevent tipping over, the main volume of the air should be maintained not lower than the center of gravity of the body when partially submerged, preferably well above such center of gravity.

This condition is exemplified in the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail of part of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front view of a second form of the invention when inoperative; and

Fig. 4 is a front view of Fig. 3 when in operation.

If it be assumed that any particular point X indicates generally the center of gravity of the body of a wearer when partially submerged, the form of Figs. 1 and 2 includes waterproof trousers H), such as are known as waders, the upper part of which forms a waist-line preferably approaching a line under the armpits of the wearer to which waist-line is securely fastened a casing comprising overlapping flaps II and I2 held together by buttons 83 and enclosing a circular rubber tube 14 which may be inflated in any suitable manner by a valved pipe [5.

The whole garment may be supported on the body of the wearer by shoulder straps It or in any suitable manner, so that when tube [4 is inflated the upper part thereof, when partially submerged and supporting the wearer, will form a shelf whereon the elbows and forearms of the wearer may rest without fatigue. This is due to the placement of the upper partof tube I l at least above the center of gravity X and this structure has the dual function of assuring stability as well as supporting the elbows and forearms, which latter is especially valuable for sportsmen.

In operation, tube l4 being inflated the desired degree and the whole garment being supported by straps IS in the proper position. the wearer will carry his rod or gun and simply walk into water of increasing depth until the buoyancy of tube l4 supports him in stable vertical position, wherein he may fish or shoot in comfort and safety. A small paddle or other means of propulsion can be carried. I

If a leak should develop in tube Hi, pipe I5 is preferably placed within easy reach of the wearer to at least reinflate to the point of safety.

When the wearer comes out of the water he is enabled to simply approach ground where his feet can secure hold and thenwalk upright out of the water.

In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the lower portion of the body of the wearer is encased, as before, in a waterproof and airproof garment of substantially the same cut as previously described.

In the present modification, the waist-line of the inner garment I0 is securely fixed in airtight and watertight connection with one end of the airtight outer garment I1 which is shown in the form of a skirt, the front and rear of which are joined by a connector I8 placed at such point as to restrict the upward rise of skirt I! to form a circular air pocket IQ of sufiicient capacity to support the wearer in stable vertical position in water as before.

It is clear that when the wearer of the form of Figs. 3 and 4, Walks into water of increasing depth that air will be trapped between the inner and outer portions of the garment and will rise to a point where an air pocket fold I9 is formed in skirt l1 and contains air under whatever the hydrostatic pressure of immersion may be, and to this end the length, diameter, and design of skirt I! will be made.

When the wearer walks out of the water after use, as shown in Fig. 4, the water between the two garments will assume its normal level and the air its normal pressure.

A valved inflation pipe 20 may be provided for air pocket IQ for safety purposes, and a tube M with valved stem 15, as shown in Fig. 1, may be used inside air pocket I 9 of Fig. 4 for double safety effects, it being understood that the forms near the top thereof a pair of annular flaps, and means on the flaps for detachably securing together their free peripheries to afiord a chamber to receive snugly an inflatable circular tube in position to surround the wearer between the waist and armpits, said annular chamber being of such diameter of radial cross section as to afford a substantial shelf for resting the elbows and forearms of the wearer without fatigue.

CHARLES L. STOKES. 

